ACLS: Practice Exam (2025)
Q&A
You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency response
system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action? - answer-Start chest
compressions of at least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. The blood pressure is 92/50 mm Hg, the
heart rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry
reading is 97%. What assessment step is most important now? - answer-Obtaining a 12 lead
ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts?
- answer-Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rhythm. What is your next step? - answer-Begin chest
compressions.
You have completed 2 minutes of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead II rhythm below,
and the patient has no pulse. Another member of your team resumes chest compressions, and
an IV is in place. What management step is your next priority? - answer-Administer 1mg of
epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The patient has no
pulse. What is the next action? - answer-Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? - answer-
Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a component of high-quality chest compressions? - answer-Allowing complete
chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? - answer-
Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity? - answer-Sinus rhythm without a
pulse
What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced
airway in place? - answer-Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10
ventilations per minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an
endotracheal tube while another performs continuous chest compressions. During subsequent
, ventilation, you notice the presence of a waveform on the capnography screen and a PETCO2
level of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? - answer-Chest compressions may
not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients - answer-allows for monitoring of CPR
quality.
For the past 25 minutes, an EMS crew has attempted resuscitation of a patient who originally
presented in ventricular fibrillation. After the first shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole,
which has persisted despite 2 doses of epinephrine, a fluid bolus, and high-quality CPR. What is
your next treatment? - answer-Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical
control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - answer-Be sure
oxygen is not blowing over the patient's chest during the shock.
During your assessment, your patient suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and
determining that the patient is not breathing, you are unsure whether the patient has a pulse.
What is your next action? - answer-Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation paddles? -
answer-Hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions during CPR?
- answer-Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - answer-Early defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a patient in refractory
ventricular fibrillation? - answer-Amioderone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions? - answer-10 seconds
or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - answer-PETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid response team
(RRT)? - answer-Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during a resuscitation
attempt? - answer-Switch providers about every 2 minutes or every 5 compression cycles.
What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with a pulse rate of
80/min? - answer-1 breath every 5-6 seconds
Q&A
You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency response
system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action? - answer-Start chest
compressions of at least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. The blood pressure is 92/50 mm Hg, the
heart rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry
reading is 97%. What assessment step is most important now? - answer-Obtaining a 12 lead
ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts?
- answer-Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rhythm. What is your next step? - answer-Begin chest
compressions.
You have completed 2 minutes of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead II rhythm below,
and the patient has no pulse. Another member of your team resumes chest compressions, and
an IV is in place. What management step is your next priority? - answer-Administer 1mg of
epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The patient has no
pulse. What is the next action? - answer-Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? - answer-
Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a component of high-quality chest compressions? - answer-Allowing complete
chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? - answer-
Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity? - answer-Sinus rhythm without a
pulse
What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced
airway in place? - answer-Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10
ventilations per minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an
endotracheal tube while another performs continuous chest compressions. During subsequent
, ventilation, you notice the presence of a waveform on the capnography screen and a PETCO2
level of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? - answer-Chest compressions may
not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients - answer-allows for monitoring of CPR
quality.
For the past 25 minutes, an EMS crew has attempted resuscitation of a patient who originally
presented in ventricular fibrillation. After the first shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole,
which has persisted despite 2 doses of epinephrine, a fluid bolus, and high-quality CPR. What is
your next treatment? - answer-Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical
control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - answer-Be sure
oxygen is not blowing over the patient's chest during the shock.
During your assessment, your patient suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and
determining that the patient is not breathing, you are unsure whether the patient has a pulse.
What is your next action? - answer-Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation paddles? -
answer-Hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions during CPR?
- answer-Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - answer-Early defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a patient in refractory
ventricular fibrillation? - answer-Amioderone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions? - answer-10 seconds
or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - answer-PETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid response team
(RRT)? - answer-Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during a resuscitation
attempt? - answer-Switch providers about every 2 minutes or every 5 compression cycles.
What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with a pulse rate of
80/min? - answer-1 breath every 5-6 seconds
